Suction device for dipping, stripping, or plating tanks



Patented Apr. 14, 1931 UNITED STATES ERNST KOEPPEN, OF ORADELL, NEW JERSEY SUCTION DEVICE FOR DIPPING, STRIPPI'NG, )R PLATING TANKS Application filed May 17,

This invention relates to a suction system attachment for dipping, stripping or plating tanks for the purpose of preventing the inhalation of injurious fumes by the person operating the tanks.

Various suction systems have been used ever since the introduction of electro-plating, and the use of acids in this art. With some systems a hood is built over the tank and the fumes are directed through said hood into the atmosphere by means of fans. It has been found, however, that such hoods are objectionable for several reasons. First, they constantly interfere with the work of the operator. Secondly, the inhalation of the fumes is unavoidable as while working under said hood the operators head is in the path of the suction. And thirdly, the acid drawn along with the fumes is not recuperable.

The main object of my invention is to provide a suction device whereby the objections mentioned will be entirely obviated.

Furthermore it has the object of providing a device which can be manufactured to fit tanks of different sizes and also to provide a construction that will be simple and comparatively inexpensive. It also has for its ob ject to construct the device so that it can be readily and quickly applied to any existing tank without the necessity of changing the construction of the latter.

My invention will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which similar references characters denote corresponding parts and in which Fig. 1 is a vertical cross section of a tank equipped with my device and Fig. 2 a topkplan view of my device as applied to the tan In the drawing, T denotes a tank of the usual rectangular shape as used for electroplating and which is open at its top. The device comprises a rim 10 bent and curved substantially as shown in Fig. 1, so as to form at its lower end a vertical flange 10 adapted to extend parallel to one of the walls of the tank and bear evenly on the upper portion of said wall to which it may be fixed by welding, screws, or rivets 11 as shown. Be-

yond this flange portion 10' the rim 10 has 1928. Serial No. 278,394.

an outwardly bulging portion 10 whose lower wall is slanting as at 10 and upper wall is horizontal as at 10 Theinner end of said horizontal wall is again bent vertically downwards forming an inner side wall 10". This wall is spaced from the flange portion,.1() to form a free passage 10. The same is made of sheet material such as sheet metal, hard rubber, fibre or the like and is adapted to be manufactured in long pieces to be sub sequently cut to the length of the particular tank for which it is to be used. After the rim is cut to the desired size its ends are tightly closed by end walls 12 thereby forming a hollow body open at its bottom as at 10. Suitably fixed in the slanting lower wall 10 of the bulging portion 10 are a number of tube sections 13 from one to four feet apart along its length, so as to extend vertically downwards. These pipe sections 79 project with their open ends into the hollow body or rim and with their lower ends outwardly, the latter terminating in an exhaust pipe 14 arranged'externally of the tank and leading to a suction pump, exhaust fan or the like (not shown) of any suitable construction. The horizontal wall 10 of the rim serves to support the anodes A to be used in electroplating. Ifthe rim is made of metal the outer faces of walls 10 and 10 arecovered 89 with a suitable insulation v15, to prevent contact between the anodes and the body of the rim. The anodes A are fixed byset screws 16 or the like to a bar 17 of'brass or the like loosely bearing on the part 10 of the rim. C denote the cathode whichissupported on the tank in any suitable manner midway between the anode bars at both ends of the tank.

The provision of several pipe sections 13 serves to insure even suction throughout the length of the rim.

In use, the air and fumes are drawn through the passage or openbotto1n10", into the hollow rim 10 and thence pass out through the pipe sections 13 and exhaust pipe 1 1.

hen passing into the hollow rim, the acid fumes strike the walls of the rim, causing most of themoist particles of the fumes deposited thereon and becoming condensed to flow back along the slanting wall 10 into it? the tank. The upwardly projecting ends of the exhaust pipes 18 act as obstructions preventing the moistparticles from being drawn along with the air through the pipe 13. Thereby at least 80% of the acid or solution used in the electro-plating that usually goes to Waste, are reouperated.

The suction taking place directly over the acid orplating solution, all fumes produced there are caused to be withdrawn, insuring 7 fresh air permitting :thejoperatorto work without any danger of inhaling fumes detrimental to his health. r

This construction is particularly advantageous for chromium plating tanks, since chromium, as is well known, developes ob-o noxious tumes at the anodes andcathods.

Itis obvious that the construction -may be changed in variousways without departing from the principle of myinvention. I there- ;fore, do not wish to restrict myself tothe dc :tails described and shown. 7 V 5 What Iclaimis:

1. A suction device for withdrawing the fumes developed in an acid or plating tank, 1 consisting-of a'tubular bodyattachable-to one :ofthe walls of said tank and having a slantingibotto'm formed with an exhaust :passage for'the fumes, said slanting bottom causing the condensed particlesof the solution to flow back intothetank and having-at least one exhaust tpipe fixed therein, with its inner end Y projecting above said bottom, to prevent the condensed solution from being drawn away with the fumes through said pipe.

' 2. A suction device 'for -'\vithdrawing the V fumes developed in an acid or ap'lating tank consisting of aitubularbody attachable to one of the walls of said tank,-and having a slant- 7 111g bottom formed W'ltll an exhaust passage forthe fumes,s a1d slanting'bottom causing the condensed particles of'the solution to flow 3 back into thetank, the upper part of said body overlaping the, lower part and being spaced apart therefrom, to prevent the anodes from coming in contact with :the wall of the tank;

3. A suction device for acid :or plating tanks, comprising a hollow body formed of a piece of sheet metal so curved. as to'form' a curved wall having aslanting'bottom, a :ver-

' tical flange extending downwardly from said bottom, a-horizontal top Wall,;a vertical inner c Wall, the latterbeing spaced irom the bottom to .forina free passage therebetween, and end walls, said slanting bottom having at least one openlng, a pipe section fixedgin said open- 'ing, the upperendofwhirih projects into and w ltllGElOWGI end of which'projects outwardly from said hollow body,' and suction means adapted to :be connected to said lower-.endmf saidp ipei p In-testiinony whereof I afliximy signature. V p V ERNST KOEPPEN." 

